This old world map wall mural is an enlarged reproduction of cartographer Henricus  Hondius' 1630 baroque-style world map. The decorative map was first published in  the 1630 edition of the Mercator-Hondius Atlas. Surrounding the map's hemispheres are beautifully hand-colored engravings depicting portraits of Ptolemy, Mercator, Julius Caesar, and Hondius. Also bordering the ornate map are representations of the Earth's natural elements including fire, represented by Apollo , god of Sun, driving the Sun's chariot;  Aeros, the goddess of air, surrounded by clouds and birds; Mother Earth, surrounded by animals and the earth’s bounty; and Water represented by a Siren and sea monsters.

Tucked between the hemispheres are a celestial globe with the figure of the sun at the  top, and a scene of Europe receiving tribute from Asia, America and Africa with a figure of the moon at the bottom. The scenes are all beautifully linked together with a rich garland of fruit. 

Geographically this map is considered important because presents California as an  Island and  there is a very early representation of the Great Lakes, as nascent bodies of water appear in the region. The map also shows for the first time the Dutch discoveries on the Carpentaria coast of Australia and the Baffin’s Island which is shown encircled by open water (at the time called Queen Anne’s foreland) on the northeast coast of Canada. The faint outline of Terra Australis Incognita is still in evidence.

The authentic map is owned today by the State Library of New South Wales 

(Australia), and the real size is 21,5 x 15 inches.